1. On the occasion of the 3rd session of the Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), held from April 28 to May 9 at the UN headquarters in New York, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, together with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, hosted a side event addressing the North Korean nuclear issue. More than 70 participants from governments, academia, international organizations, and civil societies attended the event, listening to presentations and engaging in a Q&A session.

* Since the 1st session of the Preparatory Committee for the 10th NPT Review Conference in 2017, the Republic of Korea and France have jointly hosted side events and led joint statements on the North Korean nuclear issue on the occasion of NPT meetings.

* Overview of the ROK-France Joint Side Event

- Title: North Korea’s Nuclear Proliferation, An Enduring Challenge to the NPT

- Date & Time: Monday, April 28, 2025, 13:15–14:30

- Location: United Nations Headquarters, New York

- Opening Remarks

Ambassador Sangjin Kim, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN

Mr. Teymouraz Gorjestani, Director for Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

- Speakers

Mr. Sydney Seiler, Senior Adviser and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Mr. Michiru Nishida, Professor, School of Global Humanities and Social Sciences, Nagasaki University

Mr. Jong Kwon Youn, Director-General for International Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea

2. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Kim underscored that North Korea’s illegal nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, which violate international norms including the NPT and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, constitute one of the gravest challenges to the NPT regime. He particularly emphasized the importance of international community's clear and firm message calling for the denuclearization of North Korea, amid the recent developments complicating the North Korean nuclear issue including Russia’s veto that dismantled the Panel of Experts under the 1718 Sanctions Committee and the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. He reaffirmed the Korean government’s strong commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and called for continued support and cooperation from NPT member states and the international community for the Korean government’s North Korea policies.

3. Participants expressed deep concern that North Korea, by unilaterally declaring its withdrawal from the NPT and continuing to develop nuclear weapons and missile programs, poses an existential threat to the NPT regime. They reaffirmed that the North Korean nuclear issue must be addressed as a core agenda within the NPT framework. They also agreed on the necessity to intensify efforts to block North Korea's activities that fund its nuclear and missile programs, including its illicit cyber activities.

4. Director-General Youn noted that following the dissolution of the Panel of Experts for the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee (1718 Committee) in April 2024 due to Russia’s veto, the Multinational Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) was launched to minimize the resulting gap in overseeing the implementation of sanctions on North Korea. He explained that the MSMT is currently working to publish its first report and called for the NPT member states' strong resolve and close coordination to safeguard international peace and security in response to North Korea’s ongoing threats.

5. The ROK will also issue a joint statement on the North Korean nuclear issue during the Preparatory Committee in collaboration with partners from various regions, including France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. The joint statement will express deep concern over North Korea’s unlawful nuclear and missile programs, reaffirm that North Korea must return to the NPT regime and comply with IAEA safeguards, and clearly state that North Korea cannot have the status of a nuclear-weapon State in accordance with the NPT. The statement will also call for the complete, verifiable, and irreversible dismantlement (CVID) of all North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile programs.